When are wintersweet seeds sown and when do they bloom?

The wintersweet flower is golden yellow with a highly graceful form, which is why it is also called “golden tea”. It is one of the most popular bonsai plants in recent years, so when are wintersweet seeds sown and when do they bloom?

1. When are wintersweet seeds sown?

Under normal circumstances, wintersweet is rarely grown from seed; it is mostly propagated by grafting and cuttings. This is because wintersweet grown from seed tends to show varietal degeneration, and it takes a long time from sowing to blooming.

1. Wintersweet sowing time

Wintersweet fruit is harvested in July and August each year, and considering seed germination, it is best to sow in February and March of the following year.

2. Wintersweet sowing method

Before sowing, the wintersweet seeds must first be treated to promote germination, that is, soak the seeds in warm water at 60-70°C for 2 hours, then dry them. In addition, seed selection is also very important; choose plump, glossy seeds, as their germination rate will be somewhat higher.

If growing in a pot, use loose, fertile sandy loam rich in humus, and before sowing, water the potting soil once, not too much, just enough to ensure the soil has a certain moisture level. Then sow the seeds at a depth of 5 cm, cover with a layer of soil, and spread a layer of straw or rice straw over the soil.

2. When do wintersweet seeds bloom?

1. Blooming time of wintersweet grown from seed

Because the seedlings must be transplanted after sowing, it generally takes at least 4-5 years to bloom and bear fruit.

Wintersweet blooms in the depths of winter in the twelfth lunar month; the saying “blooming alone in the cold” is the most fitting description for wintersweet. However, with proper care, the flowering period of wintersweet can last from November each year to around early March of the following year.

2. Characteristics of wintersweet flowering and fruiting

The flowers of wintersweet are generally wax-yellow or golden yellow, with a faint fresh fragrance when in bloom.

After wintersweet blooms, fruit will gradually form in July-August of the following year. The fruit is an oval chestnut-brown nut.

If you want wintersweet to bloom abundantly, you need to prune it and remove buds. The time should be chosen between March and June each year, and no later than the end of June.

Warm tip: Because wintersweet has a relatively well-developed root system, when growing it in a pot, choose a larger flower pot, and it is best to repot about once every 2 years. The repotting time can be chosen in February. To increase the permeability of the soil, you can add some chaff ash and sandy soil to the new soil.